Cavern House
Unlocking hidden value through a deep retrofit of an historic cottage, updating it to meet modern building regulations, and uncovering lost features of the building's domestic past in the process.
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Project type: Renovation, retrofit, conservation
Protections: Conservation area, SSSI, Scheduled monument, UNESCO Global Geopark.
Client type: Commercial
Date: 2023
Status: Complete
We were commissioned by one of our commercial clients to explore ways of unlocking value within their existing site and office premises, which included two terraced houses that had previously been converted into offices and storage rooms.
Through a series of workshops, we examined how the site was being utilised and worked with the client to establish their goals and priorities.
This process enabled us to identify an opportunity to consolidate the office and storage functions into one of the houses, thereby freeing up the other to generate additional revenue.
We then assisted our client in converting the second property back into residential use as a characterful holiday let. Initially, the client had not considered this option due to the site's protected status (conservation area and SSSI) and its proximity to a scheduled ancient monument. However, we successfully navigated the project through the necessary approvals processes, ensuring it was completed efficiently and within budget.
The proposal was sensitive and light-touch, uncovering lost features of the building's domestic past while updating it to meet modern building regulations. This included exposing historic tiling, window and door openings, and a fully intact set of stair spindles.
Paintings and portraits long held in storage were reinstated, adding authenticity and character to the interior spaces, honouring the building’s historic use.
We also took the opportunity to introduce thermal improvements, such as upgrading the windows, demonstrating the long-term savings these would provide over the building's lifetime, in alignment with the client’s business priorities.